Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended								12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 subscriber	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 segment subscriber	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2008	Dec. 31, 2013 Continuing operations	Dec. 31, 2012 Continuing operations	Dec. 31, 2013 Eliminations Continuing operations	Dec. 31, 2012 Eliminations Continuing operations	Dec. 31, 2013 All Other & Eliminations	Dec. 31, 2012 All Other & Eliminations	Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Continuing operations	Dec. 31, 2012 DISH Continuing operations	Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Operating segment	Dec. 31, 2012 DISH Operating segment	Dec. 31, 2011 DISH Operating segment	Dec. 31, 2008 Wireless	Dec. 31, 2013 Wireless Continuing operations	Dec. 31, 2012 Wireless Continuing operations	Dec. 31, 2013 Wireless Operating segment	Dec. 31, 2012 Wireless Operating segment	Dec. 31, 2011 Wireless Operating segment	Dec. 31, 2008 DBSD North America (ICO) Wireless	Mar. 09, 2012 DBSD North America and TerreStar Transactions Wireless
Segment Reporting
Number of primary operating business units									2
Number of DISH Network subscribers	14,057,000								14,057,000
Segment information
Payment to acquire certain 700 MHz wireless licenses												$ 712,000,000												$ 712,000,000						$ 712,000,000
Payments to acquire wireless spectrum assets																															2,860,000,000
Total assets	20,375,628,000				17,379,608,000				20,375,628,000	17,379,608,000			20,297,424,000	17,102,467,000	(4,041,934,000)	(4,189,097,000)			19,713,853,000	16,224,949,000					4,625,505,000	5,066,615,000
Assets of discontinued operations	78,204,000				277,141,000				78,204,000	277,141,000
Total revenue	3,538,540,000	3,505,021,000	3,485,774,000	3,375,530,000	3,320,824,000	3,293,609,000	3,318,924,000	3,247,977,000	13,904,865,000	13,181,334,000	13,074,063,000										13,903,091,000	13,179,907,000	13,073,633,000				1,774,000	1,427,000	430,000
Depreciation and amortization			53,000,000						1,054,026,000	964,484,000	912,203,000										952,793,000	922,534,000	912,203,000				101,233,000	41,950,000
Operating income (loss)	450,957,000	420,394,000	25,212,000	451,616,000	478,275,000	(260,183,000)	481,932,000	558,334,000	1,348,179,000	1,258,358,000	2,928,983,000										1,938,998,000	1,322,474,000	2,928,553,000				(590,819,000)	(64,116,000)	430,000
Interest income									148,865,000	99,091,000	33,882,000						(148,183,000)	(114,011,000)			197,095,000	148,526,000	33,847,000				99,953,000	64,576,000	35,000
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(744,985,000)	(536,236,000)	(557,966,000)						148,183,000	114,011,000			(742,207,000)	(534,585,000)	(557,966,000)				(150,961,000)	(115,662,000)
Other, net									384,856,000	173,697,000	8,240,000										42,719,000	172,874,000	8,240,000				342,137,000	823,000
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									(299,826,000)	(331,991,000)	(890,765,000)										(511,491,000)	(380,758,000)	(890,815,000)				211,665,000	48,767,000	50,000
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 290,250,000	$ 343,325,000	$ (8,720,000)	$ 212,234,000	$ 228,318,000	$ (154,430,000)	$ 236,865,000	$ 352,166,000	$ 837,089,000	$ 662,919,000	$ 1,522,374,000										$ 925,114,000	$ 728,531,000	$ 1,521,858,000				$ (88,026,000)	$ (65,612,000)	$ 516,000